A note on the Amazon ads: I've chosen to display current events titles in the Amazon box. Unfortunately, Amazon appears to promote a disproportionate number of angry-left books. I have no power over it at this time. Rest assured, I'm still a conservative.

Sunday, July 17, 2005

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince: No spoilers here. I finished reading the book early this afternoon. It's not quite as bulky as "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," but it's still a substantial read for a book ostensibly targeted at pre-teens.

The book didn't disappoint me at all and certainly leaves one anxious for the exciting conclusion to the story in the next book. As far as planning ahead goes, I'm much more pleased with J.K. Rowling than Robert Jordan, author of "The Wheel of Time" series. Rowling planned for seven books and has stuck to it. Jordan just keeps on dragging the story out as evidenced by his last book, "The Path of Daggers," where nothing actually happens in several hundred pages of fiction.

Anyway, "The Half-Blood Prince," was exciting, well-written and captivating. Don't wait for the paperback.

I don't think Jordan's problem is planning. I think that he has gotten used to getting huge paychecks for his novels and is loathe to give up the money just to finish a story. (The same thing happened to Raymond Feist) Unfortunately, he is losing too many readers. In 1990, when his first book was released, it was a new sub genre for fantasy. Since then there have been the likes of George R. R. Martin (who, unlike Jordan, can actually kill a character or two) and a slew of other writers who can produce similar products.

Rowling doesn't have the same issues when it comes to her books. She probably makes more off the licensing of her characters than she does on the books themselves. And despite only having one book to go, she has four movies to go. Four movies, four releases of toys, four new licensing opportunities. All of this leads to an ability to remain true to the story.